Spiritual Blessing
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For I will pour water on the thirsty land
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit(C) on your descendants
and My blessing on your offspring.
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5 and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit(C) on your descendants
and My blessing on your offspring.
This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’;
another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
and name himself by the name of Israel.”
another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
and name himself by the name of Israel.”
No God Other Than Yahweh
6 This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer,(D) the Lord of Hosts, says:
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7 8
Do not be startled or afraid.
Have I not told you and declared it long ago?
You are my witnesses!(H)
Is there any God but Me?(I)
There is no other Rock;(J) I do not know any.
Have I not told you and declared it long ago?
You are my witnesses!(H)
Is there any God but Me?(I)
There is no other Rock;(J) I do not know any.
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All who make idols are nothing,
and what they treasure does not profit.
Their witnesses do not see or know anything,
so they will be put to shame.(K)
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11 and what they treasure does not profit.
Their witnesses do not see or know anything,
so they will be put to shame.(K)
Look, all its worshipers will be put to shame,
and the craftsmen are humans.
They all will assemble and stand;
they all will be startled and put to shame.
and the craftsmen are humans.
They all will assemble and stand;
they all will be startled and put to shame.
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The ironworker labors over the coals,
shapes the idol with hammers,
and works it with his strong arm.
Also he grows hungry and his strength fails;
he doesn’t drink water and is faint.
13 shapes the idol with hammers,
and works it with his strong arm.
Also he grows hungry and his strength fails;
he doesn’t drink water and is faint.
The woodworker stretches out a measuring line,
he outlines it with a stylus;
he shapes it with chisels
and outlines it with a compass.
He makes it according to a human likeness,(M)
like a beautiful person,
to dwell in a temple.
14 he outlines it with a stylus;
he shapes it with chisels
and outlines it with a compass.
He makes it according to a human likeness,(M)
like a beautiful person,
to dwell in a temple.
He cuts down(e) cedars for his use,
or he takes a cypress or an oak.
He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest.
He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.
15 or he takes a cypress or an oak.
He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest.
He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.
It serves as fuel for man.
He takes some of it and warms himself;
also he kindles a fire and bakes bread;
he even makes it into a god and worships it;
he makes an idol from it and bows down to it.
16 He takes some of it and warms himself;
also he kindles a fire and bakes bread;
he even makes it into a god and worships it;
he makes an idol from it and bows down to it.
He burns half of it in a fire,
and he roasts meat on that half.
He eats the roast and is satisfied.
He warms himself and says, “Ah!
I am warm, I see the blaze.”
17 and he roasts meat on that half.
He eats the roast and is satisfied.
He warms himself and says, “Ah!
I am warm, I see the blaze.”
He makes a god or his idol with the rest of it.
He bows down to it and worships;
He prays to it,(N) “Save me, for you are my god.”
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19 He bows down to it and worships;
He prays to it,(N) “Save me, for you are my god.”
No one reflects,
no one has the perception or insight to say,
“I burned half of it in the fire,
I also baked bread on its coals,
I roasted meat and ate.
I will make something detestable(O) with the rest of it,
and I will bow down to a block of wood.”
20 no one has the perception or insight to say,
“I burned half of it in the fire,
I also baked bread on its coals,
I roasted meat and ate.
I will make something detestable(O) with the rest of it,
and I will bow down to a block of wood.”
He feeds on(h) ashes.
His deceived mind has led him astray,
and he cannot deliver himself,
or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”(P)
His deceived mind has led him astray,
and he cannot deliver himself,
or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”(P)
Restoration of Israel through Cyrus
24 This is what the Lord, your Redeemer(W) who formed you from the womb,(X) says:
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I am Yahweh, who made everything;
who stretched out the heavens by Myself;(Y)
who alone spread out the earth;
25 who stretched out the heavens by Myself;(Y)
who alone spread out the earth;
who destroys the omens of the false prophets
and makes fools of diviners;
who confounds the wise
and makes their knowledge foolishness;(Z)
26 and makes fools of diviners;
who confounds the wise
and makes their knowledge foolishness;(Z)
who confirms the message of His servant
and fulfills the counsel of His messengers;
who says to Jerusalem, “She will be inhabited,”
and to the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt,”
and I will restore her ruins;
27 and fulfills the counsel of His messengers;
who says to Jerusalem, “She will be inhabited,”
and to the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt,”
and I will restore her ruins;
who says to the depths of the sea, “Be dry,”
and I will dry up your rivers;
28 and I will dry up your rivers;
who says to Cyrus,(AA) “My shepherd,
he will fulfill all My pleasure”(AB)
and says to Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt,”(AC)
and of the temple, “Its foundation will be laid.”
he will fulfill all My pleasure”(AB)
and says to Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt,”(AC)
and of the temple, “Its foundation will be laid.”
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Footnotes:
a.
Isaiah 44:2: Lit from the womb, and He
b.
Isaiah 44:2: Upright One, referring to Israel
c.
Isaiah 44:4: Some Hb mss, DSS, LXX read as among
d.
Isaiah 44:7: Lit declare them—
e.
Isaiah 44:14: Lit To cut down for himself
f.
Isaiah 44:18: Lit They
g.
Isaiah 44:18: Or for their eyes are shut
h.
Isaiah 44:20: Or He shepherds
i.
Isaiah 44:21: DSS, LXX, Tg read Israel, do not forget Me
Cross references:
A.
Isaiah 44:1:
Isaiah 41:8-9; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 43:10; Isaiah 43:20; Isaiah 45:4; Isaiah 49:7; Isaiah 65:9; Isaiah 65:15; Isaiah 65:22
Z.
Isaiah 44:25:
Job 5:12-14; Psalm 33:10; Isaiah 29:14; Jeremiah 51:57; 1 Corinthians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 1:27
AA.
Isaiah 44:28:
Isaiah 45:1